A basketball player from Boissevain in the Westman region is surprised by the magnitude of the 2016 Power Smart Manitoba Summer Games being held this week in Steinbach.

Maddy Billaney says the opening ceremonies Sunday evening and the athlete village where she'll be staying for the next couple of days with her teammates are much bigger than she had expected. “I was watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and this is kind of the same, just a little shorter. I really liked the cheerleading and dancing and that the Mayor came out too.”

Billaney says she really likes the accommodations and the way the room is set up for her team. “We decorated the room, and it was a lot of fun. I love it so far.”

She says her team has come a long way since they first met back in May, and is excited to be playing with them. “The whole experience is more than I was expecting. It's good for our team to be here, I've gotten to know a lot more of my teammates. We have gotten used to each other, but now we can really get to know each other.”

Rita Rebizant is the Mayor of the female athletes' village, she says having the athletes stay together really contributes to the overall experience. “It contributes to team building and it gives opportunity to meet other athletes from around the Province. I think there are some connections and relationships that sometimes last for years even after the games.”

Rebizant says the girls seem to really like the facility. “Clearspring Middle School is a beautiful school and it's been amazing watching all of these kids come and are very happy with the accommodations. The cots are great and it's a very nice atmosphere, I think the girls are loving it.” 

“Some of them really have that team spirit, I checked out the Westman room yesterday and they are orange, so they've got orange balloons, orange lei's around their necks, and they're just having a great time buying into the whole experience and making the most of it, and that's what you want to see.”